Overview
- The St. Louis Blues announced Monday that Greg Cronin and Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal were hired to multi-year assistant coaching deals while Jeremy Coupal was signed as video coach and Elliott Mondou was promoted to assistant to GM Alexander Steen.
- Head coach Jim Montgomery said the additions will address specific needs: Cronin will focus on defensive habits and the penalty kill, Prospal will work with forwards and the power play, and Coupal will lead video and analytical support.
- Cronin returns from a one-year head-coaching stint with the AHL’s Iowa Wild after a two-season NHL head-coach run with the Anaheim Ducks, and Prospal arrives after three seasons as an assistant with the AHL’s Rochester Americans and a 1,108-game NHL playing career.
- Mondou moves from the Blues’ video staff into the front office as assistant to GM Steen, the club confirmed, and the team also confirmed David Alexander will remain as goaltending director while Steve Ott, Claude Julien, and Mike Weber were reassigned or not renewed.
- The completed staff signals a push to blend experienced NHL/AHL coaching, veteran player perspective, and upgraded video capability to strengthen special teams, player development, and in-game preparation next season.